The need for inclusive classrooms is increasing as we become more aware of other individuals, cultures, and societies. We get a great deal of information as a result, however, it’s not necessarily reliable. Persons who assume they know something to run the danger of being excluded from accessible and broad education because what they believe they know might be understood incorrectly and lead to stereotypes, biases, and judgments on certain people.
However, as inclusive classrooms gain popularity, a solution is required for how to most effectively and easily accommodate so many various sorts of pupils. The answer we need is accessible education technology.
For additional classroom ideas, visit ViewSonic’s education solutions page or keep reading to discover how to make your classroom more inclusive. How to improve well-being in schools
In inclusive classrooms, more students with special needs, impairments, or disabilities are often included. However, there is a trend toward inclusion that goes beyond mere individuals with particular requirements.
The phrase “inclusive classrooms” may also refer to making the effort to include students of different racial origins, socioeconomic statuses, cultural backgrounds, and sexual orientations in your class. To guarantee that every one of these pupils receives a fair education has access to technology and receives a general education. The goal of inclusive classrooms is to eliminate preconceptions that may exist between us all as well as the gap between the wealthy and the poor.
An inclusive classroom is what?
Generally speaking, inclusive classrooms are those that are set up in age-appropriate general education settings so that children with special needs, disabilities, or impairments may study alongside classmates who may or may not have similar requirements. Although this is the most frequent use, inclusive classrooms are changing to make sure that they are inclusive for other purposes as well as special education.
For instance, inclusive classrooms may include pupils with particular needs, but it is also important to take into account pupils from various social and economic origins, those who speak minority languages, those who practice other faiths, and pupils with various sexual orientations. For a student’s development to be healthy and successful, it is critical to ensure that the classroom is truly inclusive.
Here are seven reasons why your class must be inclusive, along with more, if you’d like to learn more about inclusive education and its advantages.
An inclusive classroom includes who?
Because everyone is included, inclusive classrooms are fantastic! Since everyone is included in inclusive classrooms, we can build on informal educational methods by utilizing their experiences, cultural expertise, and personalities. Keep in mind that inclusive classrooms aim to strengthen and develop majority cultural norms rather than demoralize anyone.
When researching inclusive classrooms, you might also run across the term “multicultural education.” Simply put, multicultural education means that all students, regardless of their sexual orientation, religion, or another identity, are taught in general education classes and are included in the curriculum.
Particular Education
Inclusive classrooms are extremely beneficial for students who receive special education. This is because a large number of students with special needs, disabilities, or impairments are completely capable of participating in regular classes. Even though many of these students have no learning disabilities at all, they are often perceived as having severe mental disabilities. Misunderstandings may lead teachers and even other parents to believe that the students do not belong in general education classes.
By allowing these students to take general education classes, it is ensured that they are progressing according to educational standards. It’s possible that they won’t start off moving at the same speed, but that doesn’t imply they can’t.
However, some students may not be able to participate in an inclusive classroom because of specialized needs or pacing that the curriculum cannot accommodate because of developmental disabilities or other circumstances. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of the United States implements what is known as the least restrictive environments (LRE). According to this, a child’s learning or thinking differences shouldn’t prevent them from receiving a general education unless they are so severe that additional aids and services are unable to give them a suitable and progressive education.
Diversity of Race
Racial diversity in a classroom that values inclusion means that all students, regardless of race or ethnicity, can feel at home there. Even though there have been numerous legal battles and laws passed to stop segregation and other forms of discrimination in the educational system, there are frequently subconscious biases that could separate students into specific classrooms or with particular teachers. This may be brought on by behavioral problems, societal norms, and other forms of prejudice.
Giving students the opportunity for multicultural education has a variety of advantages. Some of these advantages include developing a more open mindset, being exposed to various cultures, developing empathy in the classroom, and improving communication skills.
Having a diverse student body also makes it possible to use more resources. To help students become more well-rounded, you can easily provide more works of literature, films, ideas, and games by people of different racial backgrounds. Check out Here Wee Read’s 2020 ultimate list of diverse children’s books if you have young students and want to encourage them to share their culture.
Religious Variation
To prevent bias, most school districts remove religion from the general education core curriculum. That does not preclude, however, religious diversity in the classroom. This can be as simple as admitting, for instance, that not all students celebrate Christmas.
Furthermore, it’s critical to avoid prejudice toward students who adhere to other religions, particularly if they express this by donning religious attire like a hijab, for instance. This entails being aware that particular foods or content might be regarded as inappropriate for them. Finding a happy medium is crucial to ensuring that no student feels excluded and that other students who adhere to the majority religion do not feel excluded for their beliefs. Once more, an inclusive classroom is for learning and development, not for humiliation.
Education World has lesson plans for grades 6 to 12 if you want to help your students learn more about the various religions of the world. Look them up!
Orientations Sexual
It’s crucial to include courses and resources that represent all sexual orientations to instill open-mindedness in kids. By no means does this content have to be explicit like what you might find in health class, but it could also include instruction on various family structures, literary genres, and other situations that students of various sexual orientations may encounter. Explaining how these difficulties might arise and how to handle them is even more important. According to the 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 27% of LGBT students experienced cyberbullying, while 33% of LGBT students had experienced bullying on school grounds.
Students that are bullied will do worse academically, have worse self-esteem, and are more prone to start bullying others. Students who identify as LGBT are also more likely to become homeless and endure abusive conditions. You can support your LGBT students in a variety of ways, one of which is by making sure they all feel safe in the classroom.
Additionally, bear in mind that bullying does not just affect LGBT students. Anyone can be bullied at school. Unsurprisingly, bullying is a serious issue that can have an impact on a student’s academic performance for both the bullied and the bully.
What Steps Can I Take to Be More Inclusive?
It can be challenging to develop a more inclusive classroom if you are unprepared or lack the necessary supplies. Thankfully, inclusive classrooms can be created much more easily today than they could in the past. The reason for this is technology. EdTech, or educational technology, is a simple way to help create this inclusive classroom.
EdTech enables teachers to quickly remove obstacles that might prevent students from progressing. All of this is much more accessible than ever before, whether it be using video-assisted learning to help students understand minority traditions or providing assistive technologies for students with specific needs.
However, remember that not all students have access to technology or the internet. Suggest a solution for these students by asking your administrators to provide laptops or city library cards so they can study in a secure setting.
How to Implement Inclusive Classroom Strategies
You can implement a variety of tactics to make your classroom more inclusive. However, it is much simpler to use a variety of materials and distribute them among various students when EdTech is used.
You can think about a variety of tactics and tech to add diversity and accessibility once you have a better understanding of your students’ cultures and personalities.
video-based instruction
Using video-assisted learning in your classroom is a great way to make it more diverse. This is because many videos were produced with diversity in mind, making it simple to locate videos with child actors from various racial and ethnic backgrounds. Videos can also be used to demonstrate situations so that students can better understand the customs and cultures of their peers.
Even better, teachers have access to fantastic paid platforms like movie board Clips as well as excellent free resources. If you believe that using educational videos in the classroom can help your students learn more about one another, this article offers advice, suggestions, and a step-by-step procedure on how to do so.
Hybrid Education
Synchronous lessons are taught both in-person and online using hybrid learning. This indicates that while some students are actually in a classroom, others are either at home or attending other educational facilities. Due to its ability to dissolve geographic barriers, hybrid learning is a fantastic option for inclusivity.
Students with special needs, those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, or those with other needs can all participate in the classroom through hybrid learning even if they are not physically present. The requirement for collaboration and total participation in the classroom also enables students to develop self-scheduling and self-confidence.
Helpful Technology
Any device, piece of machinery, or system that helps to improve lives and accommodate individuals with special requirements, impairments, or disabilities is referred to as assistive technology (AT). While integrating assistive technology with educational technology can make your classroom more inclusive, assistive technology can also be low-tech or completely non-tech.
